Reservoir arrangement



Jan. 22, 1946. E. P. SEXTON RESERVOIR ARRANGEMENT Filed Dec. 23, "1945ow A INVENTOR EVERETT F! SEXTON A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 22,1946

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RESERVOIR ARRANGEMENT Everett P. Sexton,East McKee'sport, Pa., assignor to The Westinghouse Air Brake Company,Wilmerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 23,1943, "Serial No. 515,383

'5 Claims; (01. 303-85) of any one controllingpipe to isolate such pipeso as to in no way'interfere with the supply or fluid under pressure toother parts of the system. I

V Anotherobject of theinvention is to provide a fluid pressure supplysystem of the above mentioned type which embodies a plurality of sourcesof fluid under pressurein order to insure the desired supply of fluidunder pressure to a fluid pressure supply pipe in case of failure of oneor anotherof said sources.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following'moredetailed description 'of the invention. 1 In the accompanying drawing;Fig. l is a diagrammatic view of a portion of a fluid pressure supplysystem embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is an enlargedlsectional view ofa portion of the fluid pressure supply "system illustrated "in Fig 1';and Fig. 3 is a'sectional view taken along the line 3- 3 of theprotection or cut off valve device shown in Fig. 2, V The portion of thefluid pressure su ply system shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing comprises amain reservoir I arranged "to be supplied with fluid under-pressurethrough a pipe'll leading from an air compressor: (not shown) or fromany othersuitable fluid pressure supply source. Secured to'the reservoirl,'by means of a flange 3, and connected'to a fluid pressure supply pipe'2, is acne-way flow check valve device 4, which tection valve device I3secured to and carried by. the main reservoir, a pipe l4 and a one-wayflow check valve device l5 carriedby, a flange l5 secured 'to theemergency reservoir.

'I'he service and emergencyreservoir '6 and I are provided withprotection or cutoff valve devices 18 and I9, respectively, whichdevices are connected to opposite ends ofa double check valve device .50by means of pipes 20 and 2| respectively. f

The double check valve deviceifl contains a movable double seatingpiston valve 5| "which is subject on one side to 'the combined pressuresof fluid in a chamber and a biasing spring 52 and subject on the otherside to pressure of fluid in a chamber. This check valve device isprovided to. control communication between a supply pipe 53 throughwhich fluid under pressureis *disass is provided to prevent loss offluid under pressure from the reservoir in case of breakage of pipe -2.

The system further comprises a service reservolr 6 and 'asupplemental oremergency f-reservoir l which are: connected 'in parallel 'to themalnreservoir I. .As shown in Fig. 1, the main reservolr l is connected tothe service "reservolr'li by way 101 a protection or cutoflfvalvedevice's securedto andcarried by the main reservoir, a pipe I 0 and aone-waylilow check-valve device H carried bya flange t2rsecured'totheservice reservoir. The main reservoir is connected "totheemergency reservoir '1' byway or a pro charged from eitherthe pipe 20or the pipe 2| for use in a fluid pressure controlled apparatus.

The check valv devices 4, II and [5 carried by the flanges 3, l2 and I6,respectively, are identical in structure, each comprising, asillustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawing, a'casing in which there is mounted acheckfvalve 22 of the usual well known type. Each of the flanges 3, J2,and I6 is provided with a central passage 24 which is open to the outletchamber 23 of the check valve device and which when said plate isattached to the reservoir,-is in alignment with a supply passage 25leading tothe interior of the reservoir, 7

-The protection or cut off valve devices 9, l3, l8 and 19 are alsoidentical each comprising, as illustrated in Fig. 2"of the drawing, abody casing 26' whichis arranged to 'be suitably secured to the desiredreservoir and which is'provided with fluid pressure supply passage 21which-registers with a passage 21' leading'from the interior oifthereservoir; Since, as already mentioned,

the protection or cut-off valve-devices are identical a description ofone will be suflic'ient for a clear understanding of "the invention.

Contained in the casing 26 is a valve piston 28 having at one end asealing gasket 29 which is arranged to seat 'againstxa'seat ri b' '30sur-' rounding an outlet chamber'3l for closing communication betweensaid outlet chamber and a passage '32 which is in constant opencommunication with the interior of thereservoir by .way'o'f a cham'ber33, atthe opposite end of the valve piston; and supply passage 21.

Contained in outlet cha'mberil and operatively engaging a spring seatprovided on said one end of the valve" piston and "the inner an o: the VThe plug valve 35 is provided with a stem 38 which, as best shown inFig. 3 of the drawing, extends to the exterior of the casing. Secured tothe outer end oi! the stem 38 is a handle 39' which is manuallyoperative to rotate said stem and thereby the plug valve from its normalposition, in which it is shown, to a position in which a through port 40in said valve aligns with passages 36 and 31 to establish communicationbetween chambers 3| and 33.

Surrounding the stem 38 is a spring 4| which at one end is attached tothe handle 39 and at its opposite end is secured to the casing 26, whichspring tends at all times, to urge the handle and thereby the plug valveto its normal position.

Assuming that the operating parts of the pro tection or cut off valvedevices 9, I3, I8 and I9 are all positioned as illustrated in Fig. 2 ofthe drawing. Under these conditions the plug valve 35 in each devicewill be positioned to cut off communication between the reservoir andthe outlet passage of the protection valve device with which it isassociated. The spring 34 in each device will maintain the valve piston28 in its open position so that communication between the interior ofthe reservoir, with which the device is associated, and the outletchamber 3I of the device is openby way of supply passages 21 and 21',chamber 33 in the protection valve device and passage 32. 7

With the service reservoir 6 and the emergency reservoir 1 both devoidof fluid under pressure, the biasing spring 52 in the double check valvedevice 50 will maintain the piston in the position in which it is shown,so that the supply pipe 53 is disconnected from pipe 2| and connected topipe 20.

Fliud under pressure for charging the reservoirs I, 6 and I and thesupply pipe 53 flows by way of pipe 2 and check valve 4 to the mainreservoir I from whence it flows to the chamber 5:3 in each of theprotection valve devices 9 and 3. main reservoir I to chamber 33 in eachprotection valve device is by way of the supply passages 21 and 21 inthe device and reservoir, re-

spectively.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to chamber 33 in the protectionvalvedevice 9 will freely flow from said chamber to the service reservoir 5by way of passage 32 in the protection valve device 9, outlet chamber3|,pipe I0 and check valve II, while fluid under pressure supplied tochamber 33 in the protection valve device |3 will freely flow from saidchamber to the emergency reservoir I by way of passage 32 and outletchamber 3| in the protection valve device I3 andcheck valve i5.

Fluid under pressure thus supplied to the service reservoir 6 andemergency reservoir I flows therefrom to opposite sides of the pistonvalve 5| in the'double check valve device by way The flow of fluid underpressure from the of pipes 20 and 2|, respectively. Since the pressuresof fluid supplied to opposite ends of the piston valve 5| aresubstantially equal, the biasing spring 52 serves to maintain the pistonvalve 5| in the position shown thus fluid under pressure flows from pipe2|) to pipe 53 so long as the pressure of fluid in pipe 2| and acting onthe opposite end of the piston does not exceed the combined pressure ofspring 52 and the pressure of fluid in pipe 20.

It should here be understood that in the passage 32 of each protectionvalve device there is a choke 45, as shown in Fig. 2 which has such aflow area as to permit of the normal flow of fluid under pressure fromthe chamber 33 to the outlet chamber 3|. The spring 34 in each devicewill maintain the valve piston 28 open so long as the pressure in theoutlet chamber 3| and the respective pipe I0, I4, 20, or 2| is within acertain degree of that in the associated reservoir. In the event of therupture of pipe i0, I4, 20 or 2 I, the pressure of fluid in the outletchamber 3| of the respective protection valve device will reduce at arate exceeding the supply to said chamber through the choke 45. As aresult the pressure of fluid in the outlet chamber 3| becomes reducedsuiflciently below that in chamber 33, acting on the opposite end of thevalve piston, to provide a differential in fluid pressures on the valvepiston which will'overcome the pressure .of spring 34. When this occursthe valve piston 28 will be moved, by the pressure of fluid in chamber33 and the associated reservoir, into sealing engagement with the rib 30and thus close communication between the reservoir and pipe and preventloss of fluid under pressure from the reservoir.

In the event of the rupture of pipe 20, the protection valve device I3will close as above described and thus prevent loss of fluid underpressure from the service reservoir 6. When this rupture occurs, thepressure of fluid acting on the upper end of the piston valve 5| of thecheck valve device 50 will .be suddenly reduced so that the pressure offluid in pipe 2| acting on the lower end of the piston valve will movethe pistonvalve in an upwardly direction, as viewed in the drawing,-againstthe opposing force of spring 52 to disconnect supply pipe 53 frompipe 20 andconnect said supply pipe to pipe 2|. With this latterconnection established, the supply of fluid under pressure to thesupply'pipe 53 will be maintained from the emergency reservoir 1. Incase pipe 2| should become ruptured, while the piston valve 5| of thedouble check valve device 50 is in the position shown, the protectionvalve device I9 will close and prevent loss of fluid under pressure fromthe emergency reservoir 1 and the supply of fluid under pressure tosupply pipe 53 will be maintained from the service reservoir 6 in themanner hereinbefore described.

If pipe I0 between the main reservoir I and the service reservoir 6should become ruptured, the cut off valve device 3 will close andprevent loss of fluid from the main reservoir through the ruptured pipe,and check valve device II will act to prevent the escape of fluid underpressure from the service, reservoir and thus permit the stored fluidunder pressure in the service reservoir to be used. It will beunderstood that when the pressure of fluid in the service reservoir Bhasbeen reduced to a degree suilicient to permit the emergency reservoirpressure acting in pipe 2| to operate the piston'valve 5| of the doublecheck valve 'device- 50 from the position in which it is shown toitsother position, said piston establishes a connection between the pipe 2|and therebv age-aegis;

the emergency reservoir I to the supply pipe 53. Thusthe' supplypressure in pipe 53 will )be enamtainedfifrom the emergency reservoir. vf

' The protection valve device 'I '3an'dche'ckvalve device will actin "aure-manner to prevent "loss 'oizffluid under pressure from the emergencylrese emu '1 in case of rupture of the pipe H. "In this case the supplyof fluid under pressure to pipe 53 will be maintained from "the servicereservoir it) through pipe 26 and double check valve device '58, The"check valve device ljwill, as already mentionedpact 'to' bottle thefluid "under pressure "in the' m'ain reservoir in case of rupture of thepipe '2. It will thus b seen that the possibility o'f'los'sfof fluidunder pressure f-romt'h'e fluid'pre'ssure supply system is re'du'ced toa minimum. It will also benoted th'a'tth'e supply of fluid underpressure ftoja "fluid pressure controlled system by way of supply pipe53 is obtained'from the reservoirs 6 and 1 through pipes 29 andZl,respectively, so that as long as there is a supply "of fluid in'eitherof said reservoirs the flow of 'fluid to the fluid'pressure-controlledsystem is insured. V

In -'case;'one "of th'e'pipe HI, -I4,"'2"0 or '21 should break and cause'closure of the respective "cutoff valve device, then in order to*eirect movement of theva'lve piston 28 therein back to its normal openposition, 'afterthe damaged pip'evhas .been repaired or replaced, it isnecessary toi'educe the differential in fluid pressure acting on saidpiston valve to aidegree less than the opposing forces "of-spring 34; In-a structure such "as illustrated where one end of the valve piston isconstantly subject to pressure o'ffluid in the reservoir this must beaccomplished by increasing the pressure of fluid on the opposite orspringengaged end of the valve'piston. 5

i'For increasing the pressure "of fluid on' the spring engaged-end "ofvalve piston 28 to effect movement thereof to itsopen position, the han-36, fluid under pressure in chamber 33 and the associated reservoirflows to chamber 3| by way of passage 36, port in the plug valve 35 andpassage 31 thus by-passing fluid under pressure around the valve piston28. When the pressure of fluid on opposite ends of the valve piston 28has been substantially equalized, the spring 34 will act to move thevalve piston back to its open position. Upon manual releaseof the handle39, spring 4| will act to rotate the handle and thereby the plug valvein a counter-clockwise direction to its normal position, thus cuttingoff communication between passages 36 and 31.. Now the flow of fluidunder pressurefrom the reservoir to the associated pipe will be by wayof chamber 33, passage 32 and outlet chamber 3|.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the fluid pressure systemcomprises a plurality of sources of fluid under pressure, so that incase of failure of one source the apparatus dependent on fluid underpressure for control by way of pipe 53 maybe controlled by fluid underpressure from the other source or sources to thereby minimize thepossibility of failure of the supply of fluid to the pipe 53 andapparatus to be controlled. In order to further minimize the possibilityof failure of the apparatus dependent on fluid under pressure, a cut offor protection valve device and 'uner ressure supply through the breakwill be prevented to thereby insure against loss of fluidiroinothertparts-o'f'the system.

'"It will also be noted that this improved fluid pressur eontrol systemprovides maximum protection against loss of control fluid under pressuresince, in the event of failure "of the 'pipe'between either the mainreservoir and service resseven is available, and that the pressure orfluid "in one-or the other of said reservoirs will be maintain'ed. Inthe event of failure of the pipe between the source of fluid underpressure and the main reservoir, the fluid under pressure in the chargedreservolr will still be available for use.

Ha in new described my invention, what I c-l'a im as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: v I

l. A system 'fo'r maintaining a supply of fluid under "pressure t'o' 'afluid pressure supply pipe comprising in combination with said pipe, twoauxiliaryfireservoirs', a double check Valve device "having a normalposition for connecting one of "said reservoirs to and for isolatin theother 'ei-saidreservoirs "from said pipe and movable by "the pressure"of fluid supplied thereto from said other reservoir to another positionupon failure in the "supply of fluid under ressure thereto from said onereservoir for connecting said other reservoir to and for isolating saidone reservoir from said pipe, a main reservoir, "independent meansincluding a pipe connecting eachof said auxiliary reservoirs to saidmain reservoir, and cut-01f valve associated with said main reservoir inthe tion to each independent means operable by tlie pressure or fluid inthe respective pipe when intact to open communication between the mainreservoir and the pipe and operable automatically upon a certain rate ofreduction in pressure in the respective pipe incident to the rupture 7having a normal position for connecting one of said reservoirs to andfor isolating the other of said reservoirs from said pipe and movable bythe pressure of fluid supplied thereto from said other reservoir toanother position upon failurein the supply of fluid under pressurethereto from said one reservoir for connecting said other reservoir toand for isolating said one reservoir from said pipe, 2. main reservoir,independent means including a pipe connecting each of said auxiliaryreservoirs to said main reservoir, a check valve associated with eachauxiliary reservoir for preventing back flow from the associatedreservoir to the respective pipe when the pressure in the pipe is lowerthan that in the reservoir, and a cut-ofi valve associated with saidmain reservoir in the connection to each independent means operable bythe pressure of fluid in the respective pipe when intact toopen'communication between the main reservoir and the pipe and operableautomatically upon a certain rate of'reduction to close saidcommunication.

3. A system for maintaining a supply of fluid under-pressure to a fluidpressure supplypine comprising in combination with said pipe, twoauxiliary reservoirs, a double check valve device, a fluid conductingconduit connecting one of said reservoirs to one end of said check valvedevice and another fluid conducting conduit connecting the other of saidreservoirs to the opposite end of said check valve, said check valvedevice having a normal position for connecting said one .fluidconducting conduit and thereby said one reservoir to, and for isolatingthe other 1 of said fluid conducting conduits and thereby the other ofsaid reservoirs from, said pipe and movable by the pressure of fluidsupplied thereto from said other reservoir to another position upon apredetermined reduction of the pressure of fluid in said one conduit forconnecting said other conduit and thereby said other reservoir to, andfor isolating said one conduit from, said device associated with eachauxiliary reservoir and said main reservoir in the connection from eachreservoir to the respective fluid conducting conduit operable by thepressure of fluid in the respective conduit when intact to open communication between the reservoir with which it is associated and therespective conduit and operable automatically upon a certain rate ofreduction in pressure in the respective conduit iv incident to rupturethereof to close said communication.

4. A system for maintaining a supply of fluid under pressure to a fluidpressure supply pipe comprising in combination with said pipe, twoauxiliary reservoirs each having an inlet communication and an outletcommunication, a check valve associated with each reservoir constitutinga portion of the inlet communication thereto providing for flow of fluidunder pressure only in the direction of the reservoir, a cut-oil valvedevice associated with each reservoir con stituting-a portion ortheoutlet communication therefrom operative upon a certain rate ofreduction in the pressure of fluid in the communication leadingtherefrom to close the communication and thereby prevent loss offluid'from-the pressure, a double check valve device, two pipes oneconnecting one of said cut-oil valve devices with one end of said doublecheck valve device and the other connecting the other cut-off valvedevice with the opposite end of said check valve device, said checkvalve device normally establishing communication between one of saidpipes and the supply pipe and operable automatically upon a reduction inpressure in the normally connected pipe incident to rupture thereto toconnect the other of said pipes to said supply pipe, a main reservoir, aseparate communication connecting each of said auxiliary reservoirs withsaid main reservoir for maintaining both of said auxiliary reservoirscharged with fluid under pressure.

5. The combination with a plurality of reservoirs each having an inletcommunication and an outlet communication, a check valve secureddirectly to each reservoir and constituting a portion of the inletcommunication thereto and a cutout valve device secured directly to eachof said reservoirs and constituting a portion of the outletcommunication therefrom, said check valve preventing back flow from thereservoir to which it is attached when the pressure in the respectivecommunication is lower than in the reservoir, a pipe connecting thecut-off valve device of one reservoir with the check valve deviceconnected to the other reservoir, said outof! valve device beingnormally open to permit flow of fluid from one of the reservoirs toanother reservoir and being operative upon a certain rate of reductionof the pressure of fluid in 0 said pipe for cutting oil the flow offluid from the reservoir to which it is attached.

EVERETT P. SEXTON.

